CHAPTER ONE
The Manifesto of 1917
In the spring of 1917 the Russian people, worn out by almost three years of their rulers political and military incompetence, overthrew their Czar and installed a Provisional Government. At about the same
time the U.S.A. entered the war on the allied side.

Neither of these events greatly excited the inhabitants of Henri Oedenkovens and Ida Hoffmannseccentric vegetarian community situated at Ascona in Switzerland. They were far more interested in a
bombastic encyclical just promulgated by Theodor Reuss, a temporary guest of the community.

Let it be known, began this manifesto, that there exists, unknown to the great crowd, a very ancient Order of sages, whose object is the amelioration and spiritual evolution of mankind by means of conquering error and aiding men and women in their efforts of attaining the power of recognizing the truth. This Order has existed already in the most remote times and it has manifested its activity secretly and openly in the world under different names and in various forms: it has caused social and political revolutions and proved to be the rock of salvation in times of danger and misfortune. It has always upheld the banner of freedom against tyranny in whatever shape this appeared, whether as clerical or political or social despotism or oppression of any kind.

To this secret order every wise and spiritually enlightened person belongs by right of his or her nature: because they all, even if they are personally unknown to each other, are one in their purpose and object and they all work under the guidance of the one light of truth. Into this Sacred Society no one can be admitted by another unless he has the power to enter it himself by virtue of his own interior Illumination neither can anyone after he has once entered be expelled unless he should expel himself by becoming unfaithful to his principles and forget again the truths which he has learned by his own experience.

All this is known to every enlightened person. But it is known only to few that there exists also an external, visible organization of such men and women, who having themselves found the path to real self-knowledge, and who having travelled the burning sands, are willing to give to others, desirous of entering that path, the benefit of their experience, and to act as spiritual guides to those who are willing to be guided.

The Secret Rituals of the O.T.O. While numberless societies, associations, orders, groups, etc., have been founded during the last thirty years in all parts of the civilized world, all following some line of occult study, yet there is but one ancient organization of genuine Mystics which shows to the seeker after truth a Royal Road to discover the Lost Mysteries of Antiquity and to the Unveiling of the One Hermetic Truth.

This organization is known at the present times (sic) as the: Ancient Order of Oriental Templars Ordo Templi Orientis Otherwise: The Hermetic Brotherhood of Light It is a Modern School of Magic. And, like the ancient schools of magic, it derived its knowledge from
the East. This knowledge was never revealed to the profane, for it gave immense power for either good or evil to its possessors. It was recorded in symbol, parable and allegory, requiring a Key for its
interpretation.

The symbols and glyphs of Freemasonry were originally also derived from the more ancient mysteries. These symbols of ancient Masonry, of the Rosicrucians, the sacred art of the ancient Chemi (Egyptians),
of Homers Golden Chain, like those of modern Freemasonry, etc., are however but different aspects of the One Great Mystery. They all require a key to disclose the real underlying meaning. There exists,
however, but One Right Key, and moreover this one right key must be used the Right Way.

This key can be placed within the reach of all those who are prepared unselfishly to study and work for its possession, if they apply for membership to the Order of Oriental Templars (O.T.O.).
The O.T.O. (Ordo Templi Orientis) is a body of Initiates in whose hands are concentrated the secret knowledge of all Oriental Orders and of all existing Masonic Degrees. Its Chiefs are Initiates of the
highest rank and recognized as such by all capabel of such recognition in every country in the world. The Order is international, and has existing connections in every civilized country in the world.

Every man or woman who becomes a member of the O.T.O. has an indefeasible right to the first three degrees of Masonry.
The O.T.O. although an Academia Masonica, is not a Masonic Body, so far as the craft degrees are concerned in the sense in which that expression is usually understood in England, and therefore in no
way conflicts with, or infringes the just privileges of, the United Grand Lodge of England. English Master Masons in good standing, by arrangement, on affiliation, are admitted at reduced charges.
Members of the IX° become part-proprietors of the Estates and Goods of the Order. For further information see the publications of the O.T.O., and the synopsis of the degrees of the O.T.O.

The Secret Rituals of the O.T.O.
comparatively onerous. It is made clear, for example, that the high-flown statements in the thirdparagraph of the manifesto referring to the Sacred Society from which it is impossible to be expelled do
not apply to the O.T.O. itself. For in Article 5, Section 4 of the Constitution it is laid down that the OuterHead of the Order shall have the right to cancel or suspend the Charter of any subordinate organization... and shall also have the right to suspend or dissolve the membership of any person whenever suchaction is, in his or her opinion, for the interest of the O.T.O.

After a brief synopsis of the nine degrees of the O.T.O.  of which more later  Reusss manifestoconcluded with the following message from the Master Thirion better known as Aleister Crowley. For our great comfort it is written in the Book of the Law:
Love is the Law, Love under Will This is to be taken as meaning that while Will is the Law, the nature of that Will is Love. But this love is as it were a by-product of that Will; it does not contradict or supersede that Will: and if apparent contradiction should arise in any crisis, it is the Will that will guide us aright. Love is easily counterfeited. Lo, while in the Book of the Law is much of Love,
there is no word of Sentimentality. Hate itself is almost like Love! Fighting most certainly is Love! As brothers fight ye! All the manly races of the world understand this. The Love of Liber Legis is always bold, virile, ecstatic, even orgiastic. There is delicacy, but it is the delicacy of strength. Mighty and terrible and glorious as it is, however, it is but the pennon upon the sacred lance of Will, the damascened inscription upon the swords of the Knight-monks of Thelima.

It is the apotheosis of Freedom; but it is also the strictest possible bond. It is that harmony of Legis Jugum and Libertas Evangelii1 which we once saw upon the little table above the
Pastos of Our Father Christian Rosencreutz.

It must be frankly recognized that almost the whole of this manifesto was intended to deceive. The majority of its readers would have assumed for example, that the mysterious Master Thirion was either some discarnate entity, similar to those who supposedly manifested themselves to MacGregor Mathers and other members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, or a Himalayan superman, like Madame Blavatskys Mahatmas. Again, the statement that the O.T.O. in no way conflicts with or infringes the just privileges of the United Grand Lodge of England displayed on Reusss part either what Lenin, in
another connection, called a naivete which in a child would be touching, but is repugnant in a person of mature years, or a capacity to tell a good, strong lie. For the O.T.O. not only had, as we shall see, connections with spurious and clandestine masonic groups but functioned as a recruiting office for one of these  for in the Classification of Members by Degrees appended to Reusss document it is clearly stated that candidates are made Freemasons by the Directing Members (Fratres Superiores) of the
O.T.O.

The Secret Rituals of the O.T.O.
Nevertheless Reusss 1917 manifesto is not without interest  even importance  for, while there is no need to follow Reuss in believing that the O.T.O. was the one ancient organization of genuine
Mystics, there is no doubt that it has been one of the two most influential occult fraternities of the last century with some of its members playing important parts in the activities that have led to the current occult revival.

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